SDCC 2011 Coverage: Transformers #81 Confirmed

Thursday, July 21st, 2011 1:39PM CDT

Categories: Comic Book News, Event News
Posted by: El Duque Views: 57,099

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Interest in this project has been building ever since Simon Furman expressed his interest a few months back, and now it's becoming a reality. We just received word from Supreme Convoy that IDW has confirmed Transformers #81 through #100 is going to happen. This will be a continuation of the original Marvel comics run to be penned by Simon Furman and illustrated by Andrew Wildman.

Who says petitions don't work?

Credit(s): IDW

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Re: SDCC 2011 Coverage: Transformers #81 Confirmed (1263723)
Posted by Dead Metal on July 21st, 2011 @ 1:52pm CDT

Yes, I'll get this.
Really good news!

Re: SDCC 2011 Coverage: Transformers #81 Confirmed (1263724)
Posted by Metroplex79 on July 21st, 2011 @ 1:55pm CDT

It looks like I'm getting back into comics again :sad:

Re: SDCC 2011 Coverage: Transformers #81 Confirmed (1263727)
Posted by Bumblevivisector on July 21st, 2011 @ 1:58pm CDT

And with all his experience working around Budianski's stories to simply expand one continuity, maybe, just maybe these 20 issues actually won't break continuity with his G2 stuff.

Yeah, I know, if I get my expectations too high, it'll be a letdown no matter what...except in this case I know I'll love it regardless!

Re: SDCC 2011 Coverage: Transformers #81 Confirmed (1263730)
Posted by Marcdachamp on July 21st, 2011 @ 2:00pm CDT

Awesome news!

Re: SDCC 2011 Coverage: Transformers #81 Confirmed (1263734)
Posted by gothsaurus on July 21st, 2011 @ 2:04pm CDT

I'm back on board as well. (Hadn't been getting the comics for a while... too human-centered as of late.)

I hope they keep it all very retro and seamless... though with the advancements in the past, I can take like 10% "upgrade." (Thinking of the Star Trek remasters style... not the Star Wars remaster style.)

Re: SDCC 2011 Coverage: Transformers #81 Confirmed (1263742)
Posted by Sabrblade on July 21st, 2011 @ 2:11pm CDT

I'm currently reading the Marvel G1 stuff for the first time and it's pretty good... for the most part. The 80-issue U.S. run had it's ups and down, but that last story arc with Unicron was just epic. The G2 stuff was... dark forthe sake of being dark and could have been better. Now, I 'm reading the Marvel UK stuff (including reading their edited reprints of the U.S. issues), and the newer inserted material is quite intriguing.

Hopefully, this Issue 81-100 will be enjoyable too.

Re: SDCC 2011 Coverage: Transformers #81 Confirmed (1263754)
Posted by Blackstreak on July 21st, 2011 @ 2:22pm CDT

I told you guys this was something more than just a rumor.

Re: SDCC 2011 Coverage: Transformers #81 Confirmed (1263757)
Posted by Cyber Bishop on July 21st, 2011 @ 2:26pm CDT

Metroplex79 wrote:It looks like I'm getting back into comics again

Same here.. Looks like we will finally find out what happened to the Neo Kinghts too. Interesting thing is will G2 Megatron tank be in this since that is part of the Gi joe line as well (he was rebuilt in Joe comics for those that do not know)..

I am stoked about this!!!!

Re: SDCC 2011 Coverage: Transformers #81 Confirmed (1263758)
Posted by CaSSeTteBOTs45 on July 21st, 2011 @ 2:26pm CDT

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm sooooo looking forward to this! :grin:

Re: SDCC 2011 Coverage: Transformers #81 Confirmed (1263759)
Posted by bluecatcinema on July 21st, 2011 @ 2:27pm CDT

Sounds interesting. I wonder if they're going to keep the Action Masters around, or find a way to depower them.

Re: SDCC 2011 Coverage: Transformers #81 Confirmed (1263764)
Posted by gothsaurus on July 21st, 2011 @ 2:30pm CDT

Honestly, I LURVED the G2 comics. Still some of my favorites to date. They were gritty, dark, and had a nice story arc and art.

I hope the new ones can be respectful of that G2 run... and/or incorporate elements into the G1 comic wrapping-up universe. Liked the tank. The sheer bulk of it (compared with a tiny pistol) made for some epic action.

Re: SDCC 2011 Coverage: Transformers #81 Confirmed (1263783)
Posted by Dead Metal on July 21st, 2011 @ 2:51pm CDT

Also, F**k yea! We won! :KREMZEEK:

This and Mike Costa's resignation from the comics are just great news, I guess I'll get back into TF comics after all.

Re: SDCC 2011 Coverage: Transformers #81 Confirmed (1263798)
Posted by Stormwolf on July 21st, 2011 @ 3:14pm CDT

Nice, this news just made my day :APPLAUSE:

Re: SDCC 2011 Coverage: Transformers #81 Confirmed (1263809)
Posted by Windsweeper on July 21st, 2011 @ 3:28pm CDT

I hope Wildman keeps his art closer to his Dark Ages run rather than his Marvel US stuff and all those fleshy faces. Why couldn't they have gotten Senior?

I am glad to see the series get continued. 20 years is a long time to wait.

Re: SDCC 2011 Coverage: Transformers #81 Confirmed (1263817)
Posted by GetRightRobot on July 21st, 2011 @ 3:33pm CDT

FIC YEAH!

Re: SDCC 2011 Coverage: Transformers #81 Confirmed (1263818)
Posted by st@rscream on July 21st, 2011 @ 3:33pm CDT

Incredible news!

Re: SDCC 2011 Coverage: Transformers #81 Confirmed (1263823)
Posted by gothsaurus on July 21st, 2011 @ 3:35pm CDT

Heh. I'd rather see a...

"Ten years later, shortly after restoring the Action Masters to their normal state..."

Re: SDCC 2011 Coverage: Transformers #81 Confirmed (1263827)
Posted by gothsaurus on July 21st, 2011 @ 3:37pm CDT

Windsweeper wrote:I hope Wildman keeps his art closer to his Dark Ages run rather than his Marvel US stuff and all those fleshy faces. Why couldn't they have gotten Senior?

I am glad to see the series get continued. 20 years is a long time to wait.

Yeah, I'd love to see Senior back helping on the project, too. I loved his blocky art. Maybe IDW can shoot for a hybrid "best of" kinda retro style.

Re: SDCC 2011 Coverage: Transformers #81 Confirmed (1263867)
Posted by Seibertron on July 21st, 2011 @ 4:24pm CDT

This pretty much sums up my thoughts about this:

Thank you IDW! I'm very excited about this happening at very long last. I've waited 20+ years for this. I'm a very happy fan.

Re: SDCC 2011 Coverage: Transformers #81 Confirmed (1263869)
Posted by Seibertron on July 21st, 2011 @ 4:26pm CDT

gothsaurus wrote:
Windsweeper wrote:I hope Wildman keeps his art closer to his Dark Ages run rather than his Marvel US stuff and all those fleshy faces. Why couldn't they have gotten Senior?

I am glad to see the series get continued. 20 years is a long time to wait.

Yeah, I'd love to see Senior back helping on the project, too. I loved his blocky art. Maybe IDW can shoot for a hybrid "best of" kinda retro style.

One never knows ... perhaps he'll lend his pencils to a story or three. I've got my fingers crossed!

Re: SDCC 2011 Coverage: Transformers #81 Confirmed (1263876)
Posted by Chaoslock on July 21st, 2011 @ 4:35pm CDT

Re: SDCC 2011 Coverage: Transformers #81 Confirmed (1263878)
Posted by RK_Striker_JK_5 on July 21st, 2011 @ 4:35pm CDT

YES!!!!!

Back into TF comics!

Re: SDCC 2011 Coverage: Transformers #81 Confirmed (1263910)
Posted by Joetx on July 21st, 2011 @ 5:13pm CDT

Awesome news!

IDW's G1 Ongoing series really turned me off. The pace was too slow & the humans turned out to be bigger bad asses than the TFs.

I didn't mind the look, though. I'd rather take that rather than the dot pattern of the original Marvel series, which screamed CHEAP.

I agree w/ gothsaurus - I hope Furman doesn't ignore the G2 stuff.

Re: SDCC 2011 Coverage: Transformers #81 Confirmed (1263915)
Posted by gothsaurus on July 21st, 2011 @ 5:24pm CDT

Joetx wrote:I didn't mind the look, though. I'd rather take that rather than the dot pattern of the original Marvel series, which screamed CHEAP.

Yeah, I'm hoping they keep a consistent style — and even the design elements on the cover, fonts, etc. (The Botcon G2 throwback did a great job of this with the cover... giving nods to the old style and coloring.)

I DON'T want them to go back to bad printing techniques of the dark ages... dots or crappy paper, either one.

Re: SDCC 2011 Coverage: Transformers #81 Confirmed (1263922)
Posted by Chaoslock on July 21st, 2011 @ 5:27pm CDT

I wonder if they will include some of the Marvel-related stuff (Circuit Breaker!!!)

Re: SDCC 2011 Coverage: Transformers #81 Confirmed (1263939)
Posted by Heavy B on July 21st, 2011 @ 5:45pm CDT

now i need to get the first 80 books.

Re: SDCC 2011 Coverage: Transformers #81 Confirmed (1263982)
Posted by Seibertron on July 21st, 2011 @ 7:07pm CDT

Chaoslock wrote:I wonder if they will include some of the Marvel-related stuff (Circuit Breaker!!!)

I hope they at least include GB Blackrock who can mention the Neo Knights or something to that effect.

Re: SDCC 2011 Coverage: Transformers #81 Confirmed (1263986)
Posted by durhamwitenite on July 21st, 2011 @ 7:12pm CDT

Whoa. Totally unexpected. Totally excited.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

The kids want transformers on their new vtech innotab tablet.

Re: SDCC 2011 Coverage: Transformers #81 Confirmed (1263997)
Posted by Bleak5170 on July 21st, 2011 @ 7:43pm CDT

Meh, I'm a comics nut but Ratchet was dead at the end of the original run and most of my other favourites disappeared from the series long before that. This is still cool though. A Real American Hero is the best G.I. Joe comic IDW is publishing right now.

Re: SDCC 2011 Coverage: Transformers #81 Confirmed (1264020)
Posted by Stormer on July 21st, 2011 @ 8:26pm CDT

I think I'm actually excited about this news! Holy Cow! This a freakin' great!

I know the story will be good, but, oh, just please, God, let the art be good....If it is I promise to be nicer to my brother....

Re: SDCC 2011 Coverage: Transformers #81 Confirmed (1264222)
Posted by funeralthirst7 on July 22nd, 2011 @ 3:07am CDT

Nice to see IDW giving the fans what they want.

On a related note: was the G2 stuff ever reprinted?

Re: SDCC 2011 Coverage: Transformers #81 Confirmed (1264252)
Posted by Rodimus Prime on July 22nd, 2011 @ 5:04am CDT

funeralthirst7 wrote:Nice to see IDW giving the fans what they want.

Yeah. I haven't picked up an IDW comic since 2005. Hopefully they've improved since...

On a related note: was the G2 stuff ever reprinted?

Just 2 trade paperbacks from Titan that I know of. They are titled Dark Designs and Rage in Heaven.

Re: SDCC 2011 Coverage: Transformers #81 Confirmed (1264256)
Posted by Starscream GaGa on July 22nd, 2011 @ 5:11am CDT

WHY Wildman? I know it's nostalgic and all but seriously, he can't draw for crap.

Re: SDCC 2011 Coverage: Transformers #81 Confirmed (1264348)
Posted by nikeprime on July 22nd, 2011 @ 9:42am CDT

Is there anyway someone can get up to date with the Marvel comic run? I would like to read them or at least know of the important events/deaths without having to spend $400 to buy them all.

Re: SDCC 2011 Coverage: Transformers #81 Confirmed (1264364)
Posted by Seibertron on July 22nd, 2011 @ 10:11am CDT

Starscream GaGa wrote:WHY Wildman? I know it's nostalgic and all but seriously, he can't draw for crap.

I strongly disagree. He has a very unique art style and his characters are full of emotion, something often lacking from current Transformers comic art.

If you look at his black and white artwork from the Marvel UK TF books, you'll see his artwork is very unique and very good. It's the inker and the colorist(s) that dramatically impact his artwork. I hope the colorist on this book doesn't try to do the super advance computer coloring and tries to stick to a more basic palette which is more complimentary to Wildman's artwork in my opinion.

Re: SDCC 2011 Coverage: Transformers #81 Confirmed (1264369)
Posted by gothsaurus on July 22nd, 2011 @ 10:14am CDT

There are the IDW reprints, which contain ALMOST every issue. You could snag those (looking on amazon) for about $75, I think. (Worst case new would be about $100-120)

While some of them are indeed silly, there is some EPIC backstory... great characters (like Straxus)... plus the whole notion of the warring gods Primus and Unicron. Did I mention the Wreckers??

There's a lot there to love, in spite of some of it feeling dated. Definitely worth digging through the reprints... and the UK ones are worth finding as well. Those give development to a LOT of unloved characters.

Re: SDCC 2011 Coverage: Transformers #81 Confirmed (1264393)
Posted by Stormwolf on July 22nd, 2011 @ 11:04am CDT

Seibertron wrote:
Starscream GaGa wrote:WHY Wildman? I know it's nostalgic and all but seriously, he can't draw for crap.

I strongly disagree. He has a very unique art style and his characters are full of emotion, something often lacking from current Transformers comic art.

If you look at his black and white artwork from the Marvel UK TF books, you'll see his artwork is very unique and very good. It's the inker and the colorist(s) that dramatically impact his artwork. I hope the colorist on this book doesn't try to do the super advance computer coloring and tries to stick to a more basic palette which is more complimentary to Wildman's artwork in my opinion.

Agreed, just look at the awesome line art for Dark Ages, after coloration it looked pretty horrible.

Re: SDCC 2011 Coverage: Transformers #81 Confirmed (1264400)
Posted by gothsaurus on July 22nd, 2011 @ 11:14am CDT

I DO like Wildman... but I've seen him lean toward more robot-like faces... and then other times VERY human — with teeth and spittle drooling out of the mouth, etc.

I MUCH prefer the robots LOOK like robots, not like people wearing helmets. Heh.

Re: SDCC 2011 Coverage: Transformers #81 Confirmed (1264402)
Posted by Dead Metal on July 22nd, 2011 @ 11:18am CDT

gothsaurus wrote:I DO like Wildman... but I've seen him lean toward more robot-like faces... and then other times VERY human — with teeth and spittle drooling out of the mouth, etc.

I MUCH prefer the robots LOOK like robots, not like people wearing helmets. Heh.

The thing is the style with teeth and such was what the artists in the 80s and 90s did the TFs, since they where told that they where basically humans wearing costumes, it wasn't till later that they managed where able to draw them as robots. Wildman has evolved as an artist you know, his more recent work is very modern style, well save for the stuff that's supposed to homage the old material.

Re: SDCC 2011 Coverage: Transformers #81 Confirmed (1264406)
Posted by gothsaurus on July 22nd, 2011 @ 11:26am CDT

Dead Metal wrote:The thing is the style with teeth and such was what the artists in the 80s and 90s did the TFs, since they where told that they where basically humans wearing costumes, it wasn't till later that they managed where able to draw them as robots. Wildman has evolved as an artist you know, his more recent work is very modern style, well save for the stuff that's supposed to homage the old material.

Well put, and I agree all around. I hope they (IDW and Wildman) can find a compromise... giving a nod to the 80s in style and color, but still keeping them looking like robots.

That said, aren't we supposed to be getting a collection of UK comics with new color added? Stoked about hearing that. I hope they're bumped up to normal size instead of the manga-size I managed to get a hold of as black-and-white.

:KREMZEEK:

Re: SDCC 2011 Coverage: Transformers #81 Confirmed (1264416)
Posted by Seibertron on July 22nd, 2011 @ 11:36am CDT

gothsaurus wrote:
Dead Metal wrote:The thing is the style with teeth and such was what the artists in the 80s and 90s did the TFs, since they where told that they where basically humans wearing costumes, it wasn't till later that they managed where able to draw them as robots. Wildman has evolved as an artist you know, his more recent work is very modern style, well save for the stuff that's supposed to homage the old material.

Well put, and I agree all around. I hope they (IDW and Wildman) can find a compromise... giving a nod to the 80s in style and color, but still keeping them looking like robots.

That said, aren't we supposed to be getting a collection of UK comics with new color added? Stoked about hearing that. I hope they're bumped up to normal size instead of the manga-size I managed to get a hold of as black-and-white.

That would be really awesome. Hadn't heard this yet.

Re: SDCC 2011 Coverage: Transformers #81 Confirmed (1264426)
Posted by gothsaurus on July 22nd, 2011 @ 11:43am CDT

Here's the writeup. It's listed as releasing in September...

Transformers Classics: UK Volume 1 [Paperback]

Classic Transformers tales from the UK continuity begins here! Re-mastered and re-colored, these vintage Transformers stories are presented in chronological order, many published for the first time in the United States! Writer and life-long Transformers fan James Roberts provides in-depth, historical perspective in each volume, and Transformers UK artist Andrew Wildman provides new covers.

Re: SDCC 2011 Coverage: Transformers #81 Confirmed (1264432)
Posted by st@rscream on July 22nd, 2011 @ 11:46am CDT

gothsaurus wrote:Here's the writeup. It's listed as releasing in September...

Transformers Classics: UK Volume 1 [Paperback]

Classic Transformers tales from the UK continuity begins here! Re-mastered and re-colored, these vintage Transformers stories are presented in chronological order, many published for the first time in the United States! Writer and life-long Transformers fan James Roberts provides in-depth, historical perspective in each volume, and Transformers UK artist Andrew Wildman provides new covers.

I have this pre-ordered, and did not realize that it would be re-colored. I think the G1 reprints in early 2012 will also be re-colored which is a good thing!

I am guessing, the new Furman/Wildman books will use similar coloring as well!

Hopefully they do the same thing with Generation 2.

Re: SDCC 2011 Coverage: Transformers #81 Confirmed (1264436)
Posted by Seibertron on July 22nd, 2011 @ 11:50am CDT

st@rscream wrote:
gothsaurus wrote:Here's the writeup. It's listed as releasing in September...

Transformers Classics: UK Volume 1 [Paperback]

Classic Transformers tales from the UK continuity begins here! Re-mastered and re-colored, these vintage Transformers stories are presented in chronological order, many published for the first time in the United States! Writer and life-long Transformers fan James Roberts provides in-depth, historical perspective in each volume, and Transformers UK artist Andrew Wildman provides new covers.

I have this pre-ordered, and did not realize that it would be re-colored. I think the G1 reprints in early 2012 will also be re-colored which is a good thing!

I am guessing, the new Furman/Wildman books will use similar coloring as well!

Hopefully they do the same thing with Generation 2.

Where do you guys have this pre-ordered at? Amazon?

Re: SDCC 2011 Coverage: Transformers #81 Confirmed (1264443)
Posted by gothsaurus on July 22nd, 2011 @ 11:59am CDT

http://www.amazon.com/Transformers-Clas ... 645&sr=8-1?tag=seibertron07-20&

Re: SDCC 2011 Coverage: Transformers #81 Confirmed (1264444)
Posted by st@rscream on July 22nd, 2011 @ 12:02pm CDT

Edit: Are the US comics not getting re-colored? I thought I read that somewhere but it says nothing about that on Amazon.
------------
Yes. I always put in pre-orders of $25 or more. As the items come out they end up breaking up the shipment and you still get free shipping.

So right now you could pre-order both UK volume 1 and US volume 1 and get free shipping even though each book is less than $25 and will ship months apart.

Transformers Classics: UK Volume 1

http://www.amazon.com/Transformers-Clas ... 749&sr=1-3?tag=seibertron07-20&

Transformers Classics Volume 1

http://www.amazon.com/Transformers-Clas ... 789&sr=1-1?tag=seibertron07-20&

Re: SDCC 2011 Coverage: Transformers #81 Confirmed (1264451)
Posted by gothsaurus on July 22nd, 2011 @ 12:11pm CDT

Great tip on shipping, st@rscream. Thanks for that.

Yeah, if these USA Classics comics are recolored for sure, I'll order that as well. Comic color has come SOOooo far in the past 10-20 years.

Re: SDCC 2011 Coverage: Transformers #81 Confirmed (1264497)
Posted by Energon on July 22nd, 2011 @ 1:57pm CDT

Seibertron wrote:
st@rscream wrote:
gothsaurus wrote:Here's the writeup. It's listed as releasing in September...

Transformers Classics: UK Volume 1 [Paperback]

Classic Transformers tales from the UK continuity begins here! Re-mastered and re-colored, these vintage Transformers stories are presented in chronological order, many published for the first time in the United States! Writer and life-long Transformers fan James Roberts provides in-depth, historical perspective in each volume, and Transformers UK artist Andrew Wildman provides new covers.

I have this pre-ordered, and did not realize that it would be re-colored. I think the G1 reprints in early 2012 will also be re-colored which is a good thing!

I am guessing, the new Furman/Wildman books will use similar coloring as well!

Hopefully they do the same thing with Generation 2.

Not sure about Amazon, however I just pre-ordered UK classics at my LCS. It is due out August 24th

Where do you guys have this pre-ordered at? Amazon?

Re: SDCC 2011 Coverage: Transformers #81 Confirmed (1264538)
Posted by Joetx on July 22nd, 2011 @ 3:52pm CDT

st@rscream wrote:Edit: Are the US comics not getting re-colored? I thought I read that somewhere but it says nothing about that on Amazon.
------------
Yes. I always put in pre-orders of $25 or more. As the items come out they end up breaking up the shipment and you still get free shipping.

So right now you could pre-order both UK volume 1 and US volume 1 and get free shipping even though each book is less than $25 and will ship months apart.

Transformers Classics: UK Volume 1

http://www.amazon.com/Transformers-Clas ... 749&sr=1-3?tag=seibertron07-20&

Transformers Classics Volume 1

http://www.amazon.com/Transformers-Clas ... 789&sr=1-1?tag=seibertron07-20&

Great find, st@rscream.

Does anyone have an idea what these volumes contain (the description doesn't say much)? I'm only interested in the Furman material.

Re: SDCC 2011 Coverage: Transformers #81 Confirmed (1264588)
Posted by El Duque on July 22nd, 2011 @ 5:03pm CDT

Here's what Furman has to say about the project.

From his blog:

Announced live yesterday at San Diego Comicon — the original Marvel Transformers comic series (cancelled back in 1991 at issue #80) is being continued by IDW Publishing, thanks in large part to an online fan petition (big shouts for Luke and Ron of the IDW forums) and the tireless efforts of IDW EiC Chris Ryall. Transformers (‘classic’) will (re-) launch in Spring 2012 with issue 80 and a half, and reunites the previous writer/artist team of myself and Andrew Wildman. The reinvigorated run will build to a monumental 100th issue conclusion, pulling together and tying up every dangling plotline you can think of and a whole lot you can’t! What else can I tell you about the series? Nada. Niente. Zilch. So don’t ask. For the time being anyway we’re keeping this tightly under wraps. But it is going to shatter your trousers! Guaranteed!

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